The Orange Planning Commission has unanimously approved a plan to build a 334-unit apartment complex next to The Outlets at Orange.

The development will add a four-story apartment building and two parking structures to the lot that's directly south of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, and across the street from the UCI Medical Center.

Construction on the parking structures could begin in May, while the crews could start on the apartment building in the fall of 2014.The apartments could be ready for leasing by 2015.

"These apartments will help the city by creating more housing for our workforce," said Anna Pehoushek, the city's principal planner. "We see this development as a catalyst for our big-picture goal for the area."

Pehoushek said the city envisions the project as an anchor for Uptown Orange, an area with shopping and restaurants, mixed together with upscale housing.

The Planning Commission approved the project following a public hearing on Monday. Nobody from the public spoke before the commission. The project does not require City Council approval unless appealed to that panel.

The apartments will be developed by AMLI Residential, an Arcadia company that operates luxury apartments in the San Fernando Valley and in Rancho Cucamonga. The company also owns complexes in Texas, Florida, Colorado and other states.

The complex will feature studios, 1-3 bedroom apartments, a leasing office, clubhouse, fitness center, business center, two courtyards and two swimming pools. AMLI will pay for the upgrades of roadway medians on The City Drive and Manchester Avenue. It would also landscape parkways and plant trees around the site.

The project would be constructed on the parking lot currently used by the DoubleTree. The two new parking structures will add a combined 1,104 parking spots – 610 spaces for apartment residents and visitors, and 494 for hotel guests.

A rendering of the parking structures designed by KTGY Architecture+Planning for the new AMLI Residentail apartments planned for The City Drive, next to The Outlets at Orange. KTGY COURTESY PHOTO
Rendering of new apartment complex. COURTESY CITY OF ORANGE
Currently, the site for a planned 334-apartment complex is used as a parking lot for the nearby hotel. REGISTER FILE PHOTO

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